What being a disciple REALLY means (Luke, Part 7)
Luke 14:25-35
Introduction / Recap
- The study of Luke is an interesting one for believers to explore
-- We see Luke’s interest in humanity (it’s genuine, rem: career as a physician)
-- We also get to experience how Jesus interacts with society; He goes to them!
- Last week, we saw three critical challenges for Christians:
o We are to avoid the hypocrisy of the world and be faithful witnesses
o We must understand that everything we do will be examined by God
o And in that examination, we will be saved/condemned by our choices
- Today, I’d like us to consider being followers and maybe trying new things
-- What we have in this place is safety, and prayerfully, we’ll all experience that
- Read Luke 14:25-35 / Pray
Point 1 – What does it mean to “deny yourself”?
- Once again, large crowds are following Jesus (v25)
-- For Jesus, His only thought was about the sacrifice that was coming (cross)
-- RE: His primary mission was to give His life as a ransom for all (prophecy)
-- But, in order to carry the mission forward … followers are required
- Most of these followers will do one thing: give everything for the ministry
-- Big Fact: To follow Jesus, a half-hearted effort is not going to get it done
-- To deny oneself means that everything you value is second place
- Jesus’ words seem harsh as he talks about family denial – but what does it mean?
-- A man must put Christ FIRST (v26) in order to be a true follower
-- The words “hate everyone else” (Greek: ou misei) are very strong here
- It means there is no favoritism, no desire to do things we want or prefer
-- APP: To really follow Jesus, being a disciple must & will cost you everything
- Here are three ways that discipleship will cost you:
• Jesus is to be first in your life
• He must hold the place of honor before self or family
• For companionship, comfort, and lifestyle – Jesus is your go-to
- Mark 10:28-31, “Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”
- Please know this: Denying your preferences is always a challenge
-- Remember I said two weeks ago that we are ALL in this together?
- Here is a perfect demonstration … Ask: do you trust me? (repeat)
-- Like to ask everyone to stand up, gather stuff, and go sit in another section
-- There are four sections … pick anyone you would like
- OK, let’s chat …
-- Do you notice anything different? Other than the view?
-- The chair is the same, the message is the same, even our God is the same
-- Yet, b/c it’s different, b/c it’s change, it can cause us to resist and rebel
- APP: When we move away from our preferences, something happens
-- We become more receptive to what God wants to do … Why?
-- Because we stop making life about us … (which it never was anyway)
- Once we are freed of our wants, we can willingly carry our own cross (v27)
-- This means taking on the very same mission as Jesus – to die to yourself
-- To choose: I want what God offers, and that will completely sustain me
-- EX: Leaving what you think you should do and fully submit to God’s mission
-- It doesn’t mean that you won’t question … but in the end … you obey (follow)
- TR: So, obviously, following Jesus has a cost associated with it. So …
Point 2 – What is the cost of discipleship (or following Jesus)?
- Jesus gives two parables to consider the cost of discipleship (v28-33)
- In the first, we see it from a construction viewpoint
-- No one goes to build something without first deciding if they can afford it
- Consider: Starting to build a home and running out of money
-- What good is that home to you and your family if it’s half-finished?
-- APP: Before we begin, we have to have the conversation: “Can we do this?”
- The second considers what two kings go through when facing a war
-- The defending king must consider if his 10,000 can defeat the 20,000 attacking?
-- If not, he sends someone to negotiate peace … BEFORE they are at his door
- APP: In order to be a disciple, we must always weigh the cost
-- Once we know the cost, admit, and go do what God has called us to do
- When we count the cost of following Jesus, 2 things are clear:
1. It will cost us all that we are (we must reprioritize everything)
o Our heart (am I totally devoted?)
o Our mind (am I surrendered to Christ?)
o Our eyes (do I only look at Godly things?)
o Our ears (what do I willingly listen too?)
o Our hands (what are we involved in and spending time on?)
o Our mouth (what do we say, even when we are frustrated?)
o Our energy (do we commit to following even when we are tired?)
- Romans 6:6, “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.”
-- This is. Proclamation of Freedom!
- Romans 12:1, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”
-- Instructions on how to live for God!
2. It will cost us all that we have
- Look, here is the hard part … giving up the things you want stinks!
-- Kind of like giving up / or changing your seat this morning …
- APP: It is actually right here where many give up and stop serving God
-- “I don’t want to do something I don’t like – so instead I quit.” (Jesus knew it)
- BIG: To really follow Christ, we must step outside of our comfort zone
- Understand this: Rejecting Christ has terrible outcomes:
• Never knowing God (eternal separation from the only giver of joy)
• Never experiencing abundant life (not just getting by, truly living)
• Never having an eternal sense of purpose (EX: Why am I here?)
• Never knowing what eternity holds (EX: What is after life?)
• Never having peace to face life’s challenges (even in chaos …)
- See, our life mission is really to have the “salt of discipleship” (v34-35)
-- This involves giving and sacrificing – even in the face of possible rejection
- Allow me to give you three take-aways about being committed:
Big Ideas
1. A man/woman needs to hear an invitation to follow
- When we hear the invite, we then have a choice to respond
-- If we won’t invite – even to a thing you are part of – how can people come?
-- APP: This is where it takes us being involved and committed
2. Half-hearted choices are actually … worthless!
- Luke 9:62, “But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
-- When God calls us to move, to follow, to lead, to whatever …
-- A true disciple, or follower, will do whatever it takes to make it happen
3. A half-hearted choice will always lead to being cast out
- Salt that is not salt is useless … and it should be thrown away in the trash
-- RE: We cannot make salt “salty” again, once it has expired it is no good
- This is why God calls us to be salt – we are to be active, doing our “job”
-- Being salt means that we are involved and that we have a purpose
- Sometimes it is the simplest thing to share your faith
-- Sometimes, it can be very HARD and difficult to share your faith
-- But look at how Jesus turned this conversation …
- It started as many wanting to see Him, and He challenged them to really follow
-- Challenged them to do more, to step out, to be different—to do the work!
- I promise you: if you let God lead, He will take you on a wonderful journey
-- But, if you don’t start somewhere, how can you ever make an impact?
- The starting is as simple as doing something … What are you willing to do?
- Pray
